Packing apparatus having integrated internal buffer

ABSTRACT

An exemplary packing box ( 2 ) includes a receptacle portion ( 21 ) and at least one buffer portion ( 23 ). The receptacle portion includes a plurality of side walls ( 213, 215, 217 ) and a base ( 211 ) perpendicular to thereof. The side walls and the base cooperatively define a receiving space. The at least one buffer portion extends from at least one of the side walls. The at least one buffer portion is located in the receiving space and including a first supporting member (213 b ) and at least one buffer layer ( 233 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packing boxes, and more particular to a one-piece packing box having at least one buffer therewithin.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Various manufactured articles, for example liquid crystal displays or notebook computers, are packed at the factory before shipment to distributors. A common kind of package generally includes a box and a buffer member received in the box. The buffer member is made of lightweight material that helps reduce the effect on the article of impact sustained by the box during transportation.

Referring to FIG. 4, this is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional packing box assembly 1. The packing box assembly 1 includes a box 110 having a cover 120, and a grid shaped buffer member 130. The box 110 is made of folded cardboard, and the buffer member 130 is received in the box 110. The buffer member 130 is made from foam material (for example, polyethylene foam) that provides good mechanical buffering. The buffer member 130 includes a plurality of crisscrossed boards (not labeled) perpendicular to a bottom of the box 110. An article is arranged on the buffer member 130 in the box 110. Then the cover 120 is folded over and sealed. Thus the packing box assembly 1 securely holds the article in the box 110.

Although the buffer member 130 provides desired buffering, the packing box assembly 1 has certain drawbacks as follows.

Polyethylene foam is poisonous in its precursor forms or if it is disposed of improperly once the buffer member 130 is eventually discarded. In addition, the process of molding the buffer member 130 is relatively expensive. Furthermore, the buffer 130 has to be arranged in the box 110 before the article is packed in the box 110. Therefore, use of the packing box assembly 1 can be time-consuming.

Accordingly, what is needed is a packing means that can overcome the above-described problems.

SUMMARY

An exemplary packing box includes a receptacle portion and at least one buffer portion. The receptacle portion includes a plurality of side walls and a base perpendicular to thereof. The side walls and the base cooperatively define a receiving space. The at least one buffer portion extends from at least one of the side walls. The at least one buffer portion is located in the receiving space and including a first supporting member and at least one buffer layer.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, all the views are schematic.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an unpacked packing box with four integrally formed buffer members, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the packing box of FIG. 1 fully assembled.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the packing box of FIG. 1 completely flat prior to folding thereof.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional packing box assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 this is an isometric view of an unpacked packing box 2 with four integrally formed buffer members 23, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The packing box 2 includes a receptacle 21 and the buffer members 23. The buffer members 23 are integrally formed with the receptacle 21 as a single piece. The receptacle 21 is typically made of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. The receptacle 21 includes a cover 210, a base 211, a first side wall 213, four second side walls 215, a third side wall 217, and a bending wall 219. When the packing box 2 is assembled, the first, second and third side walls 213, 215, 217 are each substantially perpendicular to the base 211.

The first side wall 213 and the third side wall 217 are connected to two opposite shorter sides of the base 211. Two of the second side walls 215 are connected to two opposite longer sides of the base 211, and the other two second side walls 215 are connected to two opposite longer sides of the cover 210. The bending wall 219 is connected to the third side wall 217. The cover 210 is arranged opposite to the base 211 and connected to the first side wall 213. When the first, second and third side walls 213, 215, 217 are arranged to be perpendicular to the base 211, the first, second and third side walls 213, 215, 217 cooperate with the cover 210 to form a receiving space. The buffer members 23 are arranged at four corners of the base 211, and abut the respective first, second, and third side walls 213,215, 217.

When the packing box 2 is assembled, each buffer member 23 is a hollow structure. Being part of the receptacle 21, the buffer member 23 is typically made from corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. The buffer member 23 includes two supporting members 231 a, 231 b, and two buffer layers 233. The supporting members 231 a, 231 b are substantially perpendicular to the base 211, and the buffer layers 233 are substantially parallel to the base 211. The supporting member 231 a spans a height substantially the same as a height of the first, second, and third side walls 213, 215, 217. The supporting member 231 b spans to a height that is lower than the height of the first, second, and third side walls 213, 215, 217. A lower one of the buffer layers 233 spans through bottom portions of both supporting members 231 a, 231 b. An upper one of the buffer layers 233 is arranged at a top of the supporting member 231 b, but below a top of the supporting member 231 a.

Referring to FIG. 2, this is an isometric view of the packing box 2 fully assembled. The second side walls 215 connected to the cover 210 respectively overlap the second side walls 215 connected to the base 211. The bending wall 219 is bent from the third side wall 217 and covers part of the cover 210.

Referring to FIG. 3, this is a plan view of the packing box 2 completely flat prior to folding thereof. The receptacle 21 is folded along dashed lines as shown. The four buffer members 23 extend from respective portions of the first and second side walls 213, 215. Each buffer member 23 includes a plurality of inserting parts 234, and a plurality of slits 235. Widths of the inserting parts 234 correspond to dimensions of the slits 235.

In use of the fully assembled packing box 2, an article is arranged on the upper buffer layers 233 of the buffer members 23. For a typical article, four corners of the article abut top portions of the four supporting members 231 a of the buffer members 23 respectively. Then the cover 210 is folded over onto the article. Finally, the bending wall 219 is folded over onto the end of the cover 210, and attached to the end of the cover 210.

The receptacle 21 can be made of a single layer of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper, or multilayer corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. That is, the receptacle 21 can be configured according to the buffer performance desired for the packing box 2. For example, the receptacle 21 may need to be suitably strong in the case of a weighty article to be packed.

An exemplary process of fabricating the packing box 2 is as follows. Firstly, a rectangular board of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper is provided. Secondly, the board is cut according to the shape shown in FIG. 3. Thirdly, the corrugated paper is folded along with dotted lines shown in FIG. 3. Finally, the buffer members 23 are bent, and the inserting parts 234 are inserted into the corresponding slits 235.

The number of buffer members 23, supporting members 231 a, 231 b, and buffer layers 233 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The numbers of these components can be increased or reduced according to the needs of the particular application of the packing box 2. In particular, the weight of the article to be packed and supported by the buffer members 23 is a major consideration.

In summary, the buffer members 23 are formed integrally with the receptacle 21. Unlike in conventional art, there is no need for a separate buffer member. Therefore in use of the packing box 2, packing an article is a simple process. In addition, the buffer members 23 are made of corrugated paper, which is safe and environmentally friendly.

While preferred and exemplary embodiments have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, the above description is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A packing box, comprising: a receptacle portion comprising a plurality of side walls and a base, the side walls being perpendicular to the base, the base and the side walls cooperatively defining a receiving space; and at least one buffer portion extending from at least one of the side walls, the at least one buffer portion located in the receiving space and comprising a first supporting member and at least one buffer layer.
 2. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion further comprises a cover opposite to the base.
 3. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one buffer portion is four buffer portions.
 4. The packing box as claimed in claim 3, wherein the buffer portions are arranged at four corners of the base respectively.
 5. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the first supporting member is less than a height of each of the side walls.
 6. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting member is perpendicular to the base.
 7. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one buffer layer is parallel to the base.
 8. The packing box as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second supporting member, wherein a height of the second supporting member is substantially the same as the height of each of the side walls.
 9. The packing box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion comprises corrugated paper.
 10. A packing box, comprising: a receptacle portion comprising a plurality of side walls and a base, the side walls being perpendicular to the base, at least one of the side walls comprising a first extending portion extending into a space defined by the receptacle portion, wherein the first extending portion comprises a buffer portion, and the buffer portion comprises a first supporting member and a buffer layer.
 11. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receptacle portion further comprises a cover opposite to the base.
 12. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one of the side walls is two of the side walls, which each comprise the first extending portion and a second extending portion, the second extending portion comprises a buffer portion, and the buffer portion of the second extending portion comprises a first supporting member and a buffer layer.
 13. The packing box as claimed in claim 12, wherein the buffer portions of the first and second extending portions are arranged at four corners of the base respectively.
 14. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein a height of the first supporting member is less than a height of each of the side walls.
 15. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first supporting member is perpendicular to the base.
 16. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the buffer layer is parallel to the base.
 17. The packing box as claimed in claim 14, wherein the buffer portion further comprises a second supporting member, and a height of the second supporting member is greater than the height of the first supporting member.
 18. The packing box as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receptacle portion comprises corrugated paper.
 19. A packing box formed by folding a sheet, comprising: first, second third and fourth small side faces wherein the first and the third side faces are opposite to each other while adjacent to the second and the fourth side faces, and the second and the fourth side faces are opposite to each other while adjacent to the first and the third side faces; two opposite large main faces circumferentially interconnected to each other by said first, second, third and fourth small side faces so as to form a rectangular box configuration with a cavity therein, each of said small side faces defining a long longitudinal direction and a short transverse direction; the first small side face being directly extending between both said two large main faces, in an extended manner, at least one buffer portion directly extending from one longitudinal end in said longitudinal direction toward the second side face, and adapted to be folded back into the cavity and located around a corner between said first side face and said second side face.
 20. The packaging box as claimed in claim 19, wherein in said extended manner, the second side face directly extends from one of said two main faces, and the at least one buffer extends beyond said second side face and cooperate with said one of the two main faces to sandwich said second side face therebetween. 